“Down the route toward Fort Reno.”
“Oh! they’ll show up, all right,” said the scout reassuringly. “Hickok is a whole regiment and an ambulance train combined.”
“I know; but I am getting worried about the supply train, which ought to have arrived five days ago. Captain Smith and Wild Bill rode that way, and should have returned two or three hours ago. What do you think of it?”
“I think, in that case, that Hickok discovered your wagon train in difficulties and has gone to their assistance. If you will give me fifty well-mounted men I should enjoy going to the relief of your supplies and men.”
“You can have them, Cody; and the sooner you start the better it will suit me.”
Tn spite of his hard day’s ride, the scout was impatient to be off. Old Nomad got wind of it and came tearing up to the officer’s quarters.
“See hyar! what’s this aire manœuvrin’ whar’s likely ter be moosic an’ ole Nick hain’t included, hey?”
“You had better go to bed, Nomad; you’ve had a hard day,” said the general soothingly.
“Who, me? Me had er hard day? An’ ther prospects o’ scrimmagin’ woul’n’t rest me! Guess you don’t know ole Nick purty good, do ye? Say, gin’ral, ’f I cyant go ’th that thar outfit I’ll lay erwake an’ holler all night, so’s yeow an’ nobody else cyant sleep, nohow.”
The general laughed. “Well, go with Cody, if you expect to take it so much to heart.”